Ski rope reel



Oct. 10, 1961 .1. R. JAMIESON SKI ROPE REEL' Filed July 6, 1959 INVENTORJohn R. Jomieson BY @ZLQJYMX/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,003,453SKI ROPE REEL John R. Jamieson, 1921 E. Abrams, Arlington, Tex. FiledJuly 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,246 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) This inventionrelates to a ski rope feel, and it concerns more particularly anelectrically operable ski rope reel designed for one or more ropes.

In water skiing the ski ropes often become entangled with each other,particularly when two or more skiers are being towed by the same boat,or they may become entangled with the propeller of the towing boat. Anobject of this invention is to prevent the occurrence of slack in skiropes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyretrieving any unused ropes which may be dropped by fallen skiers, thuspreventing the danger of a rope and handle whipping into a skier orbecoming entangled with used ropes.

Another object of the invention is to avoid the time which is consumedin winding and unwinding ski ropes by hand, while at the same timeuntangling them, for the purpose of stowing the ropes and for reuse.

The ski rope reel of the invention is adapted to rewind automaticallyany one of several ski ropes which may be wound thereon, or all of themtogether, while at the same time making each of the ropes readilyavailable by simply pulling the handle.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic ski ropereel which is of simple, inexpensive construction, may be manufacturedinexpensively, and is eflicient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a boat having a ski ropereel embodying the invention applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ski ropereel;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view showing one of the spools whichcomprise the ski rope reel, and showing the corresponding frictionclutch whereby the spool is adapted to be rotated with the motor drivenspindle on which all of the spools are journaled, independently of theother spools, to rewind the rope thereon; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view showing the brake wherebyrotation of the spindle in one direction only, to thereby unwind the skiropes from all of the spools simultaneously, is prevented while at thesame time permitting any of the ropes to be unwound, independently ofthe others, by pulling the handles thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a boathaving a back seat 2 and a rear transom 3. A ski rope reel embodying theinvention, which is indicated generally by the numeral 4, is attached tothe back seat 2, rearwardly thereof. A plurality of ski ropes 5, whichare wound on the reel 4, extend rearwardly through openings 6 in therear transom 3.

The ski rope reel 4 includes a spindle consisting of a rotatable shaft7, which is normally disposed horizontally, transversely of the boat 1,in spaced apart relation to the back seat 2. The shaft 7 is iournaled atits ends, and intermediate its ends, in bearings consisting of pillowblocks 8, which are attached to the back seat 2 and extend rearwardlytherefrom.

An electric motor 9, which is attached to the back seat 2, rearwardlythereof, is connected by a V belt 10 to a pulley wheel 11 connected tothe shaft 7, whereby the .shaft 7 is adapted to be driven by the motor9.

A plurality of spools 12, on which the respective ski ropes 5 are wound,are journaled on the shaft 7 in spaced apart relation to each other. Aplurality of stops 13 are provided for positioning the spools 12relative to the shaft 7.

A friction clutch, which is indicated generally by the numeral 14, isattached to each of the spools 12. The friction clutches 14 each consistof a pair of semi-circular shoes 15, which embrace the shaft 7 and oneof which is attached to the spool 12. The shoes 15 have mutually opposedlugs 16 on opposite sides thereof, and are clamped together by means ofbolts 17, which are passed through aligned openings in the lugs 16 andhave nuts 18 applied thereto. A compression spring 19, which surroundsone of the bolts 17 of each pair and is positioned between the head ofthe bolt 17 and the adjacent shoe 15, is adapted to bias the adjacentsides of the shoes 15 together whereby they frictionally engage theshaft 7.

A brake drum 20, which is fixed on the shaft 7 intermediate its ends, isacted on by a brake band 21. The brake band 21 partially surrounds thebrake drum 20 and has one of its ends anchored to the back seat 2, as at22. A tension spring 23, which is secured at one end to the free end ofthe brake band 21, is secured at its opposite end to the back seat 2 atthe point of securement 22 of the fixed end of the brake band 21. Thearrangement is such that the brake band 21 is operable on the brake drum20 to secure the shaft 7 against rotation in one direction only.

In the operation of the ski rope reel above described, from one to threeskiers can pull the ropes 5 from stowed positions at the rear transom 3of the boat 1, assuming that the device has three spools 12. After aboutten feet of rope has been pulled out, the driver of the boat 1 may besignaled to take up slack. The boat 1 will then taxi away until the fulllength of the rope is unwound, and a knot on each rope 5 will cause theropes 5 to bear against the forward side of the transom 3. The ropes 5will then be ready for use in water skiing, in the usual manner.

Upon dispersal of the water skiers, the driver of the boat 1 will slowdown and push a button controlling the rewinding of the spools 12. Allof the spools 12 will rewind simultaneously. It is possible, however,that one or two skiers will wish to continue to ski. Tension applied tothe ski ropes 5 which are still in use prevents them from being reeledin, so that only the unused ropes '5 are retrieved. This arrangement isvery desirable, be-

cause unused rope trailing along can be very dangerous.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic reel for use in retrieving unused ski ropes comprising ashaft having supporting means whereby the shaft is adapted to berotatably supported in a horizontal position rearwardly of a boat, andextending transversely relative thereto, an electric motor having drivemeans operatively connecting it to the shaft whereby the shaft isadapted to be rotated by the motor, a plurality of spools, each adaptedto have a ski rope wound thereon, journaled on the shaft and spacedlongitudinally relative thereto, spring tensioned friction clutch meansreleasably connecting each of the spools to the shaft, independently ofthe others, whereby the spools are adapted to be rotated with the shaftin one direction and released therefrom in the opposite direction, andspring tensioned brake means acting on the shaft to prevent rotation ofthe shaft in a direction opposite the direction of rotation normallyimparted thereto by the motor.

2. In combination with a motor boat providing an inboard supportingsurface therefor, an automatic reel for use in retrieving unused skiropes comprising a shaft having supporting means whereby the shaft isadapted to be rotatably supported on the supporting surface, rearwardlyof the boat and extending transversely relative thereto, an electricmotor supported on the supporting surface and having drive meansoperatively connecting it to the shaft whereby the shaft is adapted tobe rotated by the motor, a plurality of spools, each adapted to have aski rope Wound thereon, journaled on the shaft and spaced longitudinallyrelative thereto, spring tensioned friction clutch means releasablyconnecting each of the spools to the shaft, independently of the others,whereby the spools are adapted to be rotated with the shaft in aclockwise direction and released from said shaft for free rotationthereon in a counter-clockwise direction, and spring tensioned brakemeans acting on the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft in adirection opposite the direction of rotation normally imparted theretoby the motor.

3. In an automatic ski rope retrieving device for boats, comprising ashaft rotatably supported in a boat and having a motor driving the same,a plurality of reels spaced along said shaft, each adapted to have a skirope wound thereon, means on each of said reels and embracing said shaftfor frictionally connecting said reels to said shaft when the latter isrotated clockwise and releasing said reels when said shaft is rotatedcounterclockwise, and a braking means on said shaft to restrain itsrotation in a counterclockwise direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS512,720 Krupicka Jan. 16, 1894 1,357,470 Perry Nov. 2, 1920 2,816,310Nale Dec. 17, 1957 2,821,726 Correll Feb. 4, 1958 2,864,585 GschwindDec. 16, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,998 Great Britain May 27, 1909 of 1908

